US: Virtual rubbish bin



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SEE ALSO Factfile: Burn, bury, recycle - disposal pros and cons

Rubber, leather, textiles, wood and other materials make up the remainder of US municipal waste.

The amount of textiles in waste have increased more than five-fold since 1950, rubber and leather have tripled, and wood increased four-fold.

Recycling rates - currently at about 12% for rubber and leather, 14% for textiles, and 4% for wood – have not kept pace, so the amounts of these materials which are incinerated and disposed of in landfills are increasing.